Presidential Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Key

Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.

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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Project Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Recent studies have linked abortion to Breast Cancer, as I have seen and heard on cable broadcasting, this needs to be explored further, I do find examples where there are reasons for abortion and support the act for those specified cases, I do not wish to see federal dollars spent for abortions with so many against the practice today.

Budget

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.

In order to balance the budget,

Yes

do you support reducing defense spending?

No

do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Yes

do you support reducing Medicaid spending?

Yes

do you support reducing Medicare spending?

Yes

Is balancing the budget an administrative priority?

Other or expanded principles

We as Americans need to reinvest our time in old legislation like Medicare and Medicaid, we have created new legislation to help the people, but it only works if the old legislation is in place, this causes us to spend more money, this is not responsible spending, if new legislation is introduced it should not exceed the funding of the prior legislation, and it should replace older legislation.

Spending

Indicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

a) Agriculture

b) Arts

Greatly Decrease

c) Defense

Slightly Increase

d) Education

e) Environment

Slightly Decrease

f) Homeland Security

Slightly Decrease

g) International aid

Maintain Status

h) Medical Research

Maintain Status

i) Scientific Research

Slightly Increase

j) Space exploration

Slightly Decrease

k) United Nations

Slightly Increase

l) Welfare

Greatly Increase

m) Other or expanded categories

It has come to my attention the Native American reservations are under funded, that the schools are below the level of financial reason, and the law enforcement authorities have a difficult time responding for crimes to such a large area as they are understaffed. I have also been made aware of our border security is still lacking in human resources, we need a greater attention to secure the area between U.S. and Mexico. I do have an open mind to those questions unanswered.

Taxes

Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

a) Capital gains taxes

Maintain Status

b) Corporate taxes

Maintain Status

c) Excise taxes (alcohol)

Greatly Decrease

d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)

Slightly Decrease

e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)

Maintain Status

f) Income taxes (low-income families)

Maintain Status

g) Income taxes (middle-income families)

Maintain Status

h) Income taxes (high-income families)

i) Inheritance taxes

j) Payroll taxes

k) Other or expanded categories

If I have not answered any questions the I will have an open mind in these areas.

Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Yes

Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?

No

Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?

Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of unemployment benefits?

Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?

Other or expanded principles

I support "New Perspective," ideas when job creation is concerned, we spend millions upon millions to create jobs every four years, we need to find how to step up into the next wave of industry to partner into a larger world market.

Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?

Other or expanded principles

I support aiding in those climates where suspected terrorists are located, it is a World Global Operation to end terror from affecting good people. The position of any American President is to ensure the safety of his or her citizens, terrorists do not tell you where they will be or what they will do, we will do all we can to guard ourselves and our allies now and into the future.

Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act?

Other or expanded principles

The Affordable care act is a bankrupt system, the act was very poorly written, and I feel it is unconstitutional, we have to attack the rising cost of health-care as many times as necessary to aid Americans, the real issue is to tackle health care costs, we cannot just socialize health-care and say it's finished, this was irresponsible government that shows no one was actually doing their job except Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

I would use my effort in the challenging debt ceiling problem, and re-balance what we should do from what we can not afford not to do. I would make education a priority, we need to cut the fat back from our Medicare and Medicaid to see where money could be allocated, to help those battling to repay student loans, and make college more affordable, and bring our public schools into a better light. Another priority would be to tackle the immigration problems facing our nation.